Published: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 8:20 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 8:20 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise made his way to south Lafourche Parish and Houma Wednesday to talk to officials and constituents about oil and gas issues, political deadlock in Congress and the federal budget.

Less than 20 people made it to the mid-morning town hall meeting at the Larose Civic Center's auditorium as volunteers prepared food for this weekend's Family Fun Fest nearby in the hallway and the kitchen. The Metairie Republican also held a second town hall meeting in Houma Wednesday evening.

Scalise used the Oscar-winning movie “Lincoln” to point out what he saw as flaws in President Barack Obama's leadership abilities. He said he's been frustrated to see the majority-Republican House of Representatives pass bipartisan bills, only to have them rejected by the majority-Democratic Senate, which he blames Obama for.

With Lincoln, Scalise said, “At the end of the day, you had a president who was a leader.” .

In Congress, “there is some fighting or partisanship on a lot of issues, but there is a lot of agreement on a lot of issues,” he said.

Scalise said he sees energy development as one of those issues on which some Democrats and Republicans can agree.

Port Fourchon Director Chett Chiasson was present at the Larose meeting and spoke about the importance of the port's development.

<p>U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise made his way to south Lafourche Parish and Houma Wednesday to talk to officials and constituents about oil and gas issues, political deadlock in Congress and the federal budget.</p><p>Less than 20 people made it to the mid-morning town hall meeting at the Larose Civic Center's auditorium as volunteers prepared food for this weekend's Family Fun Fest nearby in the hallway and the kitchen. The Metairie Republican also held a second town hall meeting in Houma Wednesday evening. </p><p>Scalise used the Oscar-winning movie “Lincoln” to point out what he saw as flaws in President Barack Obama's leadership abilities. He said he's been frustrated to see the majority-Republican House of Representatives pass bipartisan bills, only to have them rejected by the majority-Democratic Senate, which he blames Obama for.</p><p>With Lincoln, Scalise said, “At the end of the day, you had a president who was a leader.” .</p><p>In Congress, “there is some fighting or partisanship on a lot of issues, but there is a lot of agreement on a lot of issues,” he said. </p><p>Scalise said he sees energy development as one of those issues on which some Democrats and Republicans can agree.</p><p>Port Fourchon Director Chett Chiasson was present at the Larose meeting and spoke about the importance of the port's development.</p><p>“I think we're missing the boat if we don't allow for economic and environmental ... projects to come here,” Chiasson said. </p><p>After the meeting, Chiasson and Port Commissioner Kris Gaudet spoke about some projects that federal grants would make possible.</p><p>“The infrastructure to get to the port is critical to our energy security,” Chiasson said, citing a project to elevate the La. 1 corridor.</p><p>Gaudet said deepening the channel is critical to the port's growth because “the vessels coming through are larger vessels,” and the channel's depth “directly limits what we can bring into the port.”</p><p>Lafourche Parish Councilman Jerry LaFont told Scalise that federally required wetlands mitigation, or money entities must pay when they build on wetlands, has stunted growth in the parish.</p><p>Scalise agreed. Newly passed mitigation regulations “make no sense for Louisiana and make it impossible to develop,” he said.</p><p>The congressman also spoke about the importance of creating jobs in the area.</p><p>But Thomas Arceneaux, the president of the Civic Center's board of directors who also manages an oilfield contract labor company, told Scalise he doesn't know who will work these jobs.</p><p>“I can't solicit new work. ... Nobody wants to work,” Arceaneaux said.</p><p>Sometimes he hires someone only to see that person fired. There's also a lack of skilled laborers in the area, he said.</p><p>Scalise responded that he thinks that's the result of federal unemployment benefits that don't have strict enough work requirements. </p><p>Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.</p>